Multiple-connector stacked terminal blocks



Oct. 17, 1961 E. H. DREHER MULTIPLE-CONNECTOR STACKED TERMINAL BLOCKS Original Filed Aug. 19, 1954 United States Patent 3,005,180 MULTIPLE-CONNECTOR STACKED TERMINAL BLOCKS Elmer H. Dreher, East Norwalk, Conn., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to AMP Incorporated, a corporation of New Jersey Original application Aug. 19, 1954, Ser. No. 450,852. Divided and this application Feb. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 11,403 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-198) This invention relates to multiple connectors and more particularly to multiple connectors employing connections of the tapered pin and receptacle type, and is a divisional application of my copending application, Serial Number 450,852, filed August 19, 1954, now abandoned.

The use of electrical equipment requires in many instances a complex wiring arrangement wherein a large number of leads are brought to a central point either to be connected with another set of leads or to be intercom nected in accordance with a predetermined plan or a combination of both. The available space for making such connections, however, is usually limited. Heretofore, it has been the practice to provide at the central point a block of insulating material which carries a number of connector contacts, the leads being coupled thereto by the cumbersome and time-consuming methods of soldering or applying threaded fasteners. Solderless connectors of the self-locking type have also found limited application in multiple connectors, but the per unit cost and space required to make such connections is still high and maybe excessive where the number of connections to be made in a given installation is extremely high as in electrical accounting or computing machines.

Tapered pin connectors have the desirable feature that solderless electrical connections can be made therewith by applying a simple and direct axial thrust involving a very limited space. The tapered pin terminal, moreover, has a maximum width only slightly greater than the diameter of the insulated wire to which it is connected, and thus may effect an economical utilization of available space in application to multiple connectors if provided with receptacles capable of employing such pins to best advantage.

Accordingly, the present invention has for its objective the provision of a multiple connector for use with connectors of the aforesaid tapered pin type wherein a large number of connections may be made in a very limited space. It is also an objective of the invention to provide a multiple connector assembly wherein the number of connections may be varied over a wide range. Another object is to provide for multiple connectors an insert for receiving tapered pins which is mechanically and electrically effective and economical of space while having a simplicity of form lending to ease of fabrication. Another object is to provide in a multiple connector a selflocking connection which is made by straight-line connective motion. Another object is to provide a receptacle for receiving tapered pins which assures between the elements an intimate area contact over self-cleaned surfaces.

An additional objective resides in the provision of a commercially feasible organization which will be substantially foolproof in use and which overcomes certain well-known disadvantages inherent in the prior art.

Other important features and objects of the invention to which reference has not been made hereinabove will become apparent when the following description and claims are considered with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a multiple connector stack embracing the present invention, but with certain parts being cut away for purposes of clarity and with only a few of the connector inserts in place;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of one of the connector blocks of the stacked assembly of FIGURE 1, but wit-hout the connector inserts;

FIGURE 3 is a side view in, elevation of the block taken at lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken .at line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; 7

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the connector block with one form of connect-or insert mounted therein;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the connector block with another form of connector insert mounted therein;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged plan view illustrating in detail the connection between a tapered pin and the receptacle of the present invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a side view of the connection of FIG- URE 7.

With reference to FIGURE 1 the multiple connector assembly generally designated at 1 is comprised of a number of separable connector blocks maintained in a stacked relationship in any suitable manner, such as by bolts 7 and 8 which are threaded through aligned apertures 9 and 10 at each end of the individual connector blocks. Each of the connector blocks 2 is provided with a number of transverse ribs 11 defining slots 12 into which connector inserts 13 are adapted to be received.

As shown more particularly in FIGURES 5 and 6, each insert 13- provides a receptacle for receiving on either face of the connector block assembly a lead terminal 14 of the tapered pin type. The base 15 of the insert is provided with means for securely retaining the connector in the block as will be described.

With the multiple block assembly '1 mounted in fixed position in any suitable manner in relation to the electrical system being wired, the plurality of leads W, corresponding in number to the number of receptacles aifo-rded by inserts 13, may easily be interconnected as desired by insertion of terminal pins '14 therein as will be described. For example, straight-through connections may be made between two sets of leads brought to opposite faces of assembly 1, or alternatively, jumper connections between inserts on one face of the assembly may serve to interconnect in a predetermined arrangement a set of leads brought to the opposite face of the block. It will be understood, of course, that as many individual blocks 2 may be employed as desired to provide the stacked assembly with as many insert receiving slots in each block according to the purposes for which the assembly is designed.

Each block in the stacked arrangement serves to maintain the inserts of the next lower block from vertical movement within the slots, cover plate 20 being provided to cap the topmost block.

The individual connector blocks, shown more particularly in FIGURES 2 to 4 may be molded from some suitable insulating material such as rubber, a phenolic or vinyl type resin, nylon or the like, and comprise a generally flat rectangular base portion 21 from which the transverse ribs 11 project.

T6 facilitate registering and interlocking of the block's during stacking thereof, a longitudinal rib 22 on the bottom of base 21 cooperates with a groove 23 extending into and across the transverse ribs 11 of the next lower block as best illustrated in FIGURE 1. Ribs 11 are set in with respect to the faces 24 and 25 of the block and are recessed, as at 35, intermediate the length thereof to provide recesses which cooperate with lateral extensions unease-parties i i-of the inserts to pievent displacement of the inserts in slots 12. Recesses 35 preferably underlie groove 23 whereby the rib 22 on the next higher block may assist in ietaining the lateral extensions of base portion 1 in position.

FIGURE 5 illustrates one form insert 13 may take. As shown a pair of aligned tubular portions 26, contiguouswith one side of, and having a free edge spaced from the base portion 15, of relatively thin sheet metal, provide a resilient cylindrical pin-ieceiving receptacle at each 'face 24 and 25 'of blocks2. The other side of base portion 15 is slotted at 31 to form the lateral extensions or tabs 28 and 30 whichengage snugly the corners of ribs 11 to locate and hold the insert within slot 12. The additional tab 33 opposite tab 30 may be provided if desired. Tabs 30 and 33 when fitted within the recesses 35, are positively seated through the action of longitudinal rib 22 interlocking in groove 23. As thus constructed, tabs 30 and 3-3 positively maintain insert 13 from movement along the slots while cars 28 permit the receptacles to function without interference from the axial force of pin insertion.

Where it is desired that a given lead be provided with more than one outlet receptacle, a multiple (c.g. a double) insert 113a, such as shown in FIGURE 6, may be employed. Such multiple insertsmay be formed as a one piece stamping with the receptacles 26a connected by the integral extensions 28a in a ladderstrip arrangement. A double insert 13a may simply be formed by combining a pair of single inserts, each similar to that described in connection with FIGURE 5, except that one is the mirror image of the other. In'FIGURE '6, parts of the double insert having a construction similar to parts of the single insert are designated by the same reference numerals except that a sufiix a is added. Extensions 28a of one insert may thus be integral with extensions of the other insert of the pair, thereby providing the desired metallic continuity between the four associatedreceptacles. Accordingly, a lead inserted in one of the receptacles "of the multiple insert is connected with the remaining'recepta'cles by virtue of the connecting links 28a,

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the form'of the inserts makes for ease of manufacture, a simple stamping operation suflicing to form base portion '15 and receptacles 2621s a flat blank from sheet metal stock. Subsequent forming stations may then roll the receptacles into their final tubular shape.

Toproduce in use the optimum mechanical and electiicalich'aracteristics in the connection between the tapered pin {and its matin receptacle, tight'g'rippingof the pin should be effected even after the elements have, been subjected 'to repeated "disconnections. Hence, the clasnary and resiliency of the spring-like receptacle should offer a fair degree of'res'istance to expansion by the wedging action of ,pininsertion, butfyet should return to its original shape after pin withdrawal. While there are available many'suita'ble materials, it is preferred that the insert be formed from "heat treated and age-hardened beryllium copper. The proportional limit of the heat treated beryllium copper is sufficiently high to permit the drastic deformation of the receptacle for "conformance withth'e shape of the pin without"permanent set. Beryllium copper'is additionallyadvantageous in that the metal is ex remely hard, permitting a sharp inner edgees at '40 in FIGURE 1,'-ar *the insertion "end of the receptacle to be formed and maintained in use;

The taper pin in a preferred form is fabricated of sheet have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my 1 metal from tin plated brass stock which has at least a surface hardness considerably lower than that of heat treated beryllium copper. Upon insertion of the tapered pin within the receptacle, initial engagement therewith will be a rim contact with the hard sharp inner edge 40. Further insertive force being applied will cause edge 40 to scrape along the surface of the pin leaving a clean conductive contact area free from any oxide or other film. Meanwhile the high characteristic. elasticity permits the receptacle to deform and expand in substantial conformance with and to take the taper of the pin as illustrated in FIGURE 7, thus making direct contact with the freshly cleaned area of the pin. After initial engagement of the elements, therefore, the sharp edge assures a clean low-resistance contacting surface on the pin which is brought into engagement over a considerable area with the inside surface of the receptacle.

A typical embodiment of the block constructedaocording to my invention serves to illustrate the eflicie'nt utilization of space afforded thereby. For example, if the total area of the face of an assembly of ten blocks approximates 11 square inches, each block may provide for twenty-four receptacles and have the approximate dimensions as follows: Length 5.5 inches; height 0.2 inch; hori- Zontal center-to-center of receptacles 0.2 inch; vertical center-to-center of receptacles 0.2 inch. Translating to contacts per unit area, the assembly described concentrates the total 240 connections at 21.8 connections per square inch. The foregoing dimensions, while being small as compared to the number of leads, adequately provides for electrical isolation of individual leads duetto the rigid and parallel mounting of the tapered pins which, having a maximum Widthof .105 inch, are spaced at intervals of at least 0.1 inch. Moreover, rearrangement and interchanging any of the leads may simply be accomplished since connection or disconnection requires japplication only of straight-line motion axially of the pins,

sufficient space being provided for taper pin applicator tools such as disclosed. in the copending application of Gilbert C. Sitz, Serial No. 408,632, filed February '8, 1954, now Patent No. 2,774,133.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings I invention and suggested various modifications thereof; but it is to be understood that these are not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but, on the contrary, are given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify and adapt it in various forms, each as may be best suited'to the conditions of a particular use.

I claim:

1. A multiple connector assembly for stacking comprising an insulator block having on one surface substantially parallel transverse ribs defin'ing connector ins'ert receiving slots, connector inserts for said slots each including-a base portion and a tubularjportio'n at each end of said base portion for providing 'pin receiving receptacles on opposite facesof said block, a recess in each of said ribs, meansextending laterally from s'aidbase portion for cooperation with a recess to maintain said insert against movement along the associated slot, rib and groove means on opposite surfaces respectively of said block for regis'tering'a plurality of blocks in a'stacked arrangement, said lateral means and recesses being in longitudinal alignment with said .groove so that the rib on the next adjacent block stabilizesthe lateral means Within said recesses.

2. A multiple connector for arrangement in astacked array comprising a plurality of connector strips disposed in 'mutually'parallel closely-spaced relationship, each strip having aligned tubular receptacles formed at each end thereof and an extension projecting laterally therefrom, and a block of insulation material supporting said strips in said relationship, said block being rectangular and having a series of transverse ribs defining slots of a depth fully receiving said strips and receptacles, recesses in said ribs receiving the lateral extensions of said strips respectively, and registering means including a longitudinal rib and groove on opposite sides of the block for aligning the block, in overlying abutment with a similar block to provide a stacked array.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Small Aug. 10, Buchanan et al. May 11, Thacker Mar. 8, Hammell Dec. 10, 

